Decision time looming for Heat player options

SAN ANTONIO — The clock already is ticking. Within two weeks the decisions have to be made.

Yes, there are greater priorities for the Miami Heat at the moment, namely these NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, which continued with Sunday's Game 5 at the AT&T Center.

But by June 30, there will have to be resolution with the four players on the roster with 2013-14 options.

Of those decisions, only one is at the Heat's discretion, the third and final year on Mario Chalmers' contract that is a $4 million team option for next season. That option, with a June 30 deadline, almost assuredly will be picked up, a bargain price for an NBA starting point guard.

Three other options are out of the Heat's hands, 2013-14 player options held by guard Ray Allen and forwards James Jones and Rashard Lewis for the final year on their contracts, each with a June 29 deadline.

Allen has been largely mum on the issue of his $3.2 million 2013-14 option, at a stage where a second NBA title could either sate or rejuvenate.

As for Lewis, there have been reports that he already has committed to his $1.4 million 2013-14 option. He said, however, that is not the case.

"I haven't agreed to anything," he said. "I have no idea. The focus is on this year. I haven't even talked to my agent."

Jones, though, said you can count him in for the $1.5 million option he holds for next season.

"I'll be here next year barring anything crazy," said the University of Miami product and Southwest Ranches resident. "It's Miami or bust. This is a special team. This is a special window, and we have a chance to do something special next year."

The Heat hold one more team option for next season, but that one was written taking the long view. Center Jarvis Varnado will receive $250,000 of his $789,000 2013-14 salary if he makes next season's opening-night roster and be guaranteed $500,000 of the total if he is on the roster as of Dec. 15.

The option decisions for Jones and Lewis come before the mid-July amnesty window, when the Heat will have to decide whether to release forward Mike Miller in order to realize a substantial luxury-tax savings.

In essence, Jones and Lewis could find themselves competing for the break-open-in-case-of-emergency designated-shooter role that Miller has held this season.

"I want Mike here," Jones said. "We all want Mike here. But we can't control those things. We'll deal with it in the offseason.

"But either way it goes, I want to be here. I know all the guys who are on this team want to be back. So hopefully they find a way to bring us all back."

Lewis said with or without Miller, he appreciates there are no guarantees on a roster this deep.

"I could have been an emergency shooter this year," he said. "We just have such a deep team. We just have to make sure you're ready."

No flop fallout

Chris Bosh has plenty of experience with acting. So if that's how the NBA felt about his Game 4 stumble that led to a $5,000 fine for violating the NBA's anti-flopping rules, he said he's willing to let the league take its own view.

"I can't do nothing about it," he said. "You get hit with a fine and just move on."

Heat guard Dwyane Wade shared his thoughts with NBA TV in an interview that aired before Sunday's game.

On the Spurs: "They're nice . . . Nothing is happening in the games that has been chippy. I don't really know how a lot of them even sound. They don't speak much to you or say anything."

On the bumps and bruises he's taken over his career: "I'm sure it's taken some kind of toll, but if I didn't play that way, then I wouldn't be the player that you guys have become accustomed to. That's my style, that's who I am, I couldn't be [anyone] else."

On going to the Finals three consecutive years: "That's what we came together for. . . . I'm more of a winner now, consistently, and that's what I play the game for."